Convertible Wheel-Crawler Work Vehicle for Rough Terrain
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rovers are limited to traveling on surfaces suitable for travel wheels and cannot effectively navigate rough or uneven terrain.
Innovation Solution
A work vehicle equipped with travel wheels and crawler travel devices that are attachable and detachable, driven by hydraulic motors, allowing for versatile surface traversal and a simplified structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate driving sources are used for travel wheels and crawler travel devices, then the work vehicle can operate on both smooth and rough terrain, but the structure becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic motor is designed to serve dual functions: driving the travel wheels when operating on smooth terrain and driving the crawler travel devices when operating on rough terrain. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate driving sources, resolving the contradiction between terrain adaptability and structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the driving functions for travel wheels and crawler travel devices into a single hydraulic motor system. By combining these functions, the overall structure is simplified while maintaining the capability to operate on various terrain types
2Device complexity
If the work vehicle is designed with only travel wheels, then the structure is simple, but it can only travel on smooth surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The holder mechanisms are designed to be movable and adjustable, allowing dynamic reconfiguration between travel wheel mode and crawler travel device mode. This dynamic capability enables the vehicle to adapt to different terrain types without requiring a completely different structure for each terrain type
Solution Approach 2:
The holder mechanisms are designed as separable, modular components that can independently position and support either travel wheels or crawler travel devices. This segmentation allows flexible configuration while maintaining structural simplicity
3Device complexity
If crawler travel devices are permanently fixed to the holder mechanisms, then the driving mechanism is simplified, but the work vehicle cannot adapt to different terrain requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The holder mechanisms incorporate movable components that enable dynamic switching between travel wheel and crawler travel device configurations. This dynamic design allows the vehicle to adapt to different terrain requirements while maintaining a simplified driving mechanism through the shared hydraulic motor
Data Source
AI summary
A work vehicle includes a body 1; a plurality of travel wheels 2 at front and back portions of the body 1 on each of left and right sides; a plurality of holder mechanisms A held by the body 1 and holding the respective travel wheels 2 in such a manner as to be capable of moving the travel wheels 2 independently of one another relative to the body 1; and a plurality of crawler travel devices E attachable to and detachable from the respective holder mechanisms A.